Wire-fence spacer



No. 609,523. Patented Aug. 23, I898. G. E. SHELDON.

,WIRE FENCE SPACER.

(Application filed Dec. 11, 1897.)

(No Model.)

WM j E 4%W i HED STAT GEORGE E. SHELDON, OF GI'IILI STATION, NEW YORK.

WIRE-FENCE SPACER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 609,523, dated August 23, 1898.

Applicationfiled December 11, 1897. Serial No. 661,5 l5. (No model.) 7 E To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. SHELDON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chili Station, in the county of Monroe, in the State ing instrument for use in securing the verti-.

cal stay-wires in the type of wire fence shown in the patent of Barling, No. 526,368, dated September 18, 1894, but capable of being used for other purposes.

My invention is fully described and illustrated in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, the novel features thereof being specified in the claims annexed to the said specification.

In the accompanying drawings, representing my improvement, Figure 1 represents a portion of a wire fence set up ready for the securing of the stay-wires by means of my improved device. Fig. 2 represents the finished fence. Fig. 3 is a side View of my im proved spacer. Fig. 4c is a front View of the same. Fig. 5 is a diagram representing the twisting of the loops.

A A in the accompanying drawings represent the horizontal wires of the fence, and B B the vertical stay-wires. The horizontal fence-wires are sustained in any suitable way by posts placed at suitable distances apart, any ordinary or suitable devices being employed for maintaining the wires in a proper state of tension. The number and distance apart of the horizontal wires may be Varied as may be desired.

The vertical stay-wires B are twisted together and formed with opposite loops, as indicated in Fig. 1. Any suitable forming or bending device may be employed for this purpose. The stay-wires are formed with the projecting loops 0 O, which extend outward in opposite directions and are engaged with the horizontal wires, as shown. The vertical stay-wires may be placed at any suitable distances apart. Between the horizontal wires the stay-wires are twisted together, as shown at D, an opening E being left in the twist through which the additional horizontal wires F may be run, if required, which is frequently desirable, especially at the lower part of the fence, to prevent small animals from getting through it. At their upper ends 5 5 the stay-wires may be formed into a loop G, which gives an ornamental appearance to the fence, and at theirlower ends, below the lowest horizontal wire, they are twisted together and cut off, as shown at H.

My improved spacer is employed in securing the stay-wires on the horizontal wires by twisting the loops 0 and C around the Wires A, as indicated in Fig.2. It consists of a bar I, provided at one end with relatively-adj ustable jaws J J and at the other ends with the projecting lugs K. ,The jaws and lugs project from the bar in the same direction, so that when applied to the fence, as indi- .cated by the dotted lines in Fig. 1, the jaws 7o engage one of thehorizontal wires A in the open space L between the loops 0 and. C, while one of the lugs bears against the next horizontal wire, so that the distance between the horizontal wires may be accurately fixed. 7 5 The lugs are placed at such distances from the jaws as will insure the proper spacing between the horizontal wires, say five, six, seven, and eight inches. apart, as ordinarily used. One of the jaws is made adjustable on the bar in any suitable way, so that the space between the jaws may be adapted to differ ent sizes of the horizontal wires.

In the construction shown the jaw J is pro vided with a notch which fits the bar, so that it may be shifted lengthwise thereon. A threaded rod M projects from the jaw through the slot N in the bar and is provided on its outer end with the thumbmut P, by which the jaw is secured in any position to which it may be adjusted. The jaws are tapered, so as to adapt the instrument to different sizes of the openings L. The larger these openings are the deeper the jaws will enter. The jaws may be rounded or otherwise shaped to adapt 5 themselves to the shape'of the openings.

After the spacer has'been' applied to the fence with the jaws inserted in one of the openings in the stay-wires and engaging one of the horizontal wires, the next horizontal roe wire resting against one of the lugs K, I insert a suitable instrument through the loops 0 and twist them around the horizontal wire, so as to secure the stays in position and to form the finished fence indicated in Fig. 2. I usually use arod Q, which is inserted through the loop 0 on one side of the wire A, so that the loop can be twisted by turning the rod around the wire. The loop may be twisted in either direction, and it maybe given either a half or a whole turn, as preferred. The various loops are successively twisted up, while the spacer is in proper position to hold the horizontal wires at the desired distance apart. It will be understood that the spacer may be used with either end uppermost and that the loops on the stays may be twisted up by beginning at the upper horizontal wire and twisting each lower loop successively from above downward, or vice versa.

By my improvement I am enabled to put up wire fence of the kind mentioned quickly, neatly, and accurately, producing a substantial and durable structure in a superior and economical manner. It will be understood that where the horizontal fence-wires are all of the same size the jaws may be both made in one piece with the bar, the slot between them being of the proper width. The spacer may also be provided with a suitable handle for the convenience of the operator.

I claim 1. The combination, in a wire-fence spacer, of a suitable arm or bar having two jaws tapering on their outer surfaces projecting laterally from one end thereof, said jaws being adapted to engage the line-wire and the staywires in open spaces between the loops, and one or more laterally-projecting rests for the next adjacent horizontal wire at or near the other end of the bar, substantially as described.

2. The combination, in a wire-fence spacer, of a suitable arm or bar having the relativelyadjustable jaws tapering on their outer surfaces projecting laterally from one end thereof, said jaws being adapted to engage the line-wire and the stay-wires in open spaces between the loops, and one or more laterallyprojecting rests for the next adjacent horizontal wire at or near the other end of the bar, and means for securing the adjustable jaw to the bar, substantially as described.

3. The combination with the bar I, provided with the laterally-projecting lugs K near one end, of the fixed jaw J and the relatively-adjustable jaw J projecting laterally from the other end, the screw M attached to the adjustable jaw and passing through a slot N in the arm, and the nutP outside the arm, substantially as described.

GEORGE E. SHELDON.

Witnesses:

GEORGE A. GILLETTE, GEORGE B. SELDEN. 

